×

System and method for high power diode based additive manufacturing

  • US 9,855,625 B2
  • Filed: 01/05/2016
  • Issued: 01/02/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for performing Additive Manufacturing (AM) comprising:

  • irradiating a first powdered material layer of a substrate using an electromagnetic signal sufficient to induce a material phase change of at least a substantial portion of an entire two dimensional area within which the substrate is positioned;

    using a dynamically controllable, two dimensional digitally electronically addressable mask for receiving the electromagnetic signal and controllably selecting portions of the electromagnetic signal passing therethrough such that first portions of the electromagnetic signal pass through the mask without selection, and thus reach the powdered material layer without being altered, and second portions of the electromagnetic signal pass through the mask but are selected for rejection, and thus do not reach the powdered material layer;

    placing a second powdered material layer over the first powdered material layer;

    irradiating the second powdered material layer using the electromagnetic signal while using the mask to selectively block additional portions of the electromagnetic signal from reaching the second powdered material layer of the substrate;

    wherein the using a mask to selectively block portions of the electromagnetic signal comprises using a digitally electronically addressable mask;

    wherein the using a digitally electronically addressable mask comprises;

    using a liquid crystal module to rotate the first portions of the electromagnetic signal while allowing the second portions of the electromagnetic signal to pass therethrough in an unrotated condition; and

    using a polarizing element downstream of the liquid crystal module to reject a selected one of the first portions or the second portions, and thus impede the selected one of the first or second portions from reaching the substrate;

    further including using an electronically addressable spray source to deposit at least two different material types to form at least one of the first and second powdered material layers; and

    further controlling the mask in accordance with the at least two different material types being irradiated.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×